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| Konstantin Barulin: Our Driver Failed to Remember Taking a Player to the National Team |
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Konstantin Barulin
Photo: www.spartak.ru
By Pavel Savchik of Sport-Express
Translated by Sergei Balashov of Russian Hockey Digest
Spartak's 21 year old goaltender Konstantin Barulin has earned lots of praising over this season. The national team's coaches didn't fail to notice him and invited him to represent Russia at the Karjala Cup.
Q: Would it be fair to say that that invitation to the national team was unexpected for you?
Barulin: Frankly, yes. When they told me about it after the game against Severstal I got butterflies in my stomach! I also thought I got this invitation and I just allowed five goals.
Q: Did your teammates and the team's management congratulate you?
Barulin: Most certainly. They wished me good luck, too. The driver was trying to remember when was the last time when he had to drive a Spartak player to the national team's training base. Throughout our trip to the CSKA ice palace where the bus was waiting. He recalled driving Sergei Zinoviev to the national team but he couldn't remember when it happened.
Q: What teammates of yours deserve to be invited to the national team?
Barulin: A few our players have certainly earned this honor. Like forward Yunkov and Yakubov, defensemen Shulakov and Zimakov.
Q: Did you enjoy meeting your new teammates?
Barulin: The guys greeted me and we didn't have any problems. We all are united by just one objective which is to win. You could have guessed that I talk with our other goaltenders Sergei Zvyagin and Maxim Sokolov more than with anyone else.
Q: But aren't they your rivals in the competition for the place in team Russia's goal?
Barulin: It's all good. They have a rich experience of playing for the national team and for their clubs, I have an opportunity to learn a lot from them. But I got a lot to prove, too and I'm going to do it. I got to prove that inviting me to the national team wasn't a mistake.
Q: There is no goaltender coach on the team right now. Is he needed?
Barulin: Maxi Sokolov told me that when Nikolai Tolstikov and Vladimir Gerasimov were on the team they didn't hold any special practice sessions with goaltenders simply because they didn't have the time.
Q: Is there a big difference between playing for your team in the league and playing for team Russia?
Barulin: We have to be cool-headed and confident to be successful in our work. When you're nervous you can't play whether it's for your team or for the national team. If I get a chance at the Karjala Cu, I'll try to take advantage of it.
Q: Do you think you'll get this chance?
Barulin: I hope so. I don't think they called me up to keep me on the bench.
Q: What goals have you set for yourself to achieve with the national team?
Barulin: I always have just one objective which is to not allow any goals. However, it doesn't happen very often.
Q: You've had 20 straight starts for Spartak without missing a single game. Aren't you fatigued?
Barulin: Nope. The recent games were certainly hard for me, but the invitation to the national team gave me some additional strength.
Q: Spartak's other goalies Tyler Moss and Andrei Medveder have fully recovered forom injuries. Aren't you afraid to find yourself on the bench once you return to the team?
Barulin: Everything is in my own hands here.
Q: How do you estimate your merit in lifting Spartak to the middle of the standings?
Barulin: I can't really judge myself here, we'd have to ask my teammates about it. I always try to find some flaws in my game and I never say that I'm perfect. I have enough to work on. When I get shot on from middle or long distance it's better to skate out of the net a little without falling on my knees.
Q: I've noticed that you used this equipment in Tyumen before you even came to Spartak.
Barulin: The new equipment was ordered 4 months ago. I'm afraid I won't wait to see it. Actually I might not even need it. It's been rumored that they might set size requirements for goalies' equipment just like they did in the NHL.
Q: What does Spartak coach Valeri Bragin tell the players before the games?
Barulin: It depends on what adversaries we have to face. But he does know how to get us wrapped up for every game. We don't have any obvious leaders, we are strong in our teamwork. If someone has a setback everything fall apart.
Q: The fans love the Canadian forward David Ling. What do his teammates think of him?
Barulin: Ling is a great guy, he's the heart and soul of our team. We could call him a North American jester. It's hard to imagine the team without him now.
Q: Do you regret turning down a few offers in favor of joining Spartak?
Barulin: Actually, I've been loaned to Spartak. I signed a five year deal with Gazovik from Tyumen and it hasn't expired yet. Many of Super League teams offered to buy out my contract but Gazovik's management rejected all these offers. When I was leaving to Spartak they were like it's good if you'll be playing, if you won't then you'll come back. It's been good so far as you can see.
Q: Have you absorbed the so-called Spartak spirit yet?
Barulin: A few month of even a full season isn't enough to fully become a part of any team. Don't you agree with me?
Konstantin Barulin
Photo: www.spartak.ru
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| 2009-02-26 | | Barys - Vityaz 6:4 | | Atlant - Spartak 3:2 | | Severstal - Metallurg Mg 1:2 | | Lokomotiv - Traktor 3:1 | | SKA - Salavat Yulaev 5:4 | | CSKA - HC MVD 3:2 | | Dynamo Minsk - Metallurg Nk 2:4 | | Dynamo Riga - Amur 0:1 |
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| Mozyakin Sergey 76 (34+42) | | Marek Yan 72 (35+37) | | Morozov Alexei 71 (32+39) | | Zaripov Danis 65 (34+31) | | Tereschenko Alexei 58 (29+29) |
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| Marek Yan 35 | | Brendl Pavel 35 | | Mozyakin Sergey 34 | | Zaripov Danis 34 | | Morozov Alexei 32 |
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| Mozyakin Sergey 42 | | Morozov Alexei 39 | | Marek Yan 37 | | Mortensson Toni 35 | | Pestunov Dmitry 34 |
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| Ogureshnikov Sergey 1.44 | | Yachanov Dmitry 1.47 | | Norrena Fredrik 1.52 | | Kolesnik Vitaly 1.61 | | Gayduchenko Sergey 1.62 |
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